Rebecca takes up top job at SWDC

The South West Development Commission's refreshed leadership
team has been further buoyed by the arrival of Rebecca Ball, who
has taken up the position of acting chief executive officer.

Following an announcement of the appointments of Nick Belyea and
Jennie Franceschi to the top positions on the State Government
agency's board, Ms Ball has arrived in the South West to lead the
Commission.

Ms Ball brings to the Commission 20 years' of experience in
senior advisory and management roles in both public and private
sectors in Australia and overseas.

A dynamic senior manager, Ms Ball has wide-ranging and diverse
experience across business development, marketing, international
trade, education and tourism, strategy and policy development and
implementation, community engagement, and program design and
delivery.

She was most recently the executive director at the Office of
Multicultural Interests, and a member of the corporate executive of
the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural
Industries.

Her previous roles have included State Director WA with Austrade
Perth, Trade and Investment Commissioner Indonesia with Austrade
Jakarta, and Trade Commissioner South Asia with Austrade New
Delhi.

Ms Ball said she was delighted to have the opportunity to work
with the team to build on the Commission's solid foundation of
work, including the legacy created by former CEO Don Punch and most
recently led by Anna Oades and Ashley Clements.

"I'm honoured to be part of the team," Ms Ball said.

"It's an exciting time as we strengthen partnerships across
community, industry and the government - develop new ones - and
work together to realise a major program of investment and
enterprise in the region.

"I look forward to working with a wide range of stakeholders to
further enhance the creative, economic and tourism potential of the
region."

Ms Ball said the South West region had many outstanding
attributes including its unique natural environment and an
increasingly diverse economy underpinned by creativity and strong
community spirit.

"We'll be looking at how we can make Bunbury and the South West
even more welcoming to people from far and wide," Ms Ball said.

SWDC is part of the West Australian Government and works to grow
the economy and enhance quality of life.